Title: Regarding the Opinion on Masturbation... Question/Comments: I have gone through your columns, You tend to confuse a lot to the person who is seeking advice, you can just say yes or no rather you give lengthy explanations but still leave the decision to the person who is seeking advice. In some issues you prefer to be silent, I guess you are misleading us, Try to correct yourself in this regard ,in this particular [1] question you tend to remain silent when this particular thing is haraam do go to this site and several others: http://islam-qa.com/index_eng.html and then check for yourself, don't misguide people because the one who does not have full knowledge and they ask you. Post my comment in your Q & A and let the users know this. Reply me as soon as possible. Answer: I always consider the comments that I receive on my work to be of great importance, more so, when such comments entail an element of criticism on my presentation. I sincerely thank you for contributing your time and conveying to me your observations on my work. The sole source of the Shari`ah is the Prophet (pbuh). The teachings of the Prophet (pbuh), which form the Shari`ah , have been transmitted to us through the Qur'an and the Sunnah . Anything or any idea, which is not backed by a clear directive entailed in the Qur'an and the Sunnah cannot be included in the corpus of the Shari`ah . Keeping this point in perspective, it should be clear that if something is not clearly and expressly prohibited by the Shari`ah , it can then fall anywhere between 'lawful' or 'allowed' and 'disliked', but it can not be termed as prohibited. The case of self-induced sexual gratification, as I see it, has not been expressly prohibited by the Shari`ah and due to this reason, no one has the authority to declare it as 'prohibited'. This is precisely what I have expressed in my referred response. However, if you feel that there is, on the contrary, an express directive of the Shari`ah , which clearly prohibits masturbation, kindly guide me to it. You shall, insha'Allah , find me absolutely open to all revisions in my opinion in the light of any truth that comes my way. Nevertheless, if you expect me to revise my opinion in the light of the opinions of Muslim scholars, then I am afraid I will not be able to meet your expectations. My allegiance is not with the opinion of the Muslim scholars - and I am sure neither is yours. On the contrary, my allegiance is only with the directives of God and His messenger. Finally, I would like to add that in all such matters in which the Shari`ah has not expressly given a 'yes' or a 'no' as an answer, I have no other option but to provide all relevant information to my readers and, thereby, facilitate their decision-making process for them. A 'yes' or a 'no' answer in such matters, in my opinion, is beyond my jurisdiction. I thank you once again for your comments and hope that I shall continue to benefit from your comments in future as well. October 3, 2000 [1] Reference is to the question titled 'Self-Induced Sexual Pleasure - Masturbation'.